Kailash sat under the old tree by his hut, flexing his fingers inside the Qi-Infused Fighting Gloves he'd bought from the store last week.
The gloves flowed with energy, and every time he moved his hands, he could feel the Qi flowing more smoothly through his body.
"At least these weren't a complete waste of Money" he muttered to himself, standing up and giving a few experimental punches. "Feels like I'm actually doing something useful."
He'd been practicing with the gloves non-stop for the past week, and honestly, they were growing on him.
His strikes were stronger, his Qi control sharper, and even his swordsmanship felt like it had improved.
At least, that's what he told himself as he swung his sword in a wide arc, watching the blade slice through the air.
"Basic Level 3, here I come!" he shouted, but immediately winced as he heard Ajit's voice in the distance.
"Who are you talking to? The grass?" Ajit yelled, appearing out of nowhere as usual, grinning like he'd just caught Kailash doing something embarrassing.
Kailash sighed, lowering his sword. "I'm practicing."
"Sure, sure," Ajit said, strolling over with that annoying smirk of his. "Talking to yourself is definitely part of the process. I've read about it in all the top cultivation manuals 'Step One: Argue with the wind.' Works every time."
Kailash rolled his eyes. "If you're done, I have real training to do."
"Oh, I'm done," Ajit said, still grinning. "Just remember not to punch yourself with those gloves. You know how clumsy you are."
With a final groan of frustration, Kailash waved him off and got back to his practice. He needed to focus.
The Tethar Town Tournament was only a month away, and he still hadn't broken through to Basic Level 3.
If he didn't reach it soon, he'd be going up against stronger opponents with nothing but enthusiasm and a pair of shiny gloves.
That thought didn't exactly inspire confidence.
The next few days passed in a blur of sword practice, meditation, and sparring with Ravi, who seemed to take a particular joy in beating Kailash into the ground.
"You're getting better," Ravi said one afternoon as he effortlessly blocked one of Kailash's attacks and countered with a heavy blow to his side.
Kailash barely had time to dodge, and even then, it felt like Ravi's sword was a brick smashing into his ribs.
"Sure, if by 'better' you mean 'slightly less terrible,' then I'm doing great," Kailash muttered, rubbing his side.
Ravi chuckled. "You've got the spirit. Now you just need the skills. Again."
Kailash groaned but got back into position. This was his life now getting knocked around by a man twice his size while trying to figure out how not to embarrass himself in front of the entire town at the tournament.
After an hour of sparring, Kailash collapsed onto the ground, breathing hard. "I feel like I've been run over by a herd of wild boars."
Ravi grinned. "That means you're learning. Pain is the best teacher, after all."
Kailash shot him a look. "I'd prefer a teacher that didn't involve bruises, but thanks."
At the end of the week, as Kailash sat cross-legged in his usual meditation spot, he felt the now-familiar ding echo in his mind.
"Weekly Store is now open. Would you like to browse?"
Kailash opened the store with the same level of enthusiasm as someone checking the balance in their nearly empty bank account. "Alright, store. Let's see what useless junk you're trying to sell me this time."
But as the store screen popped up, Kailash's eyes widened. He blinked once, then twice.
[Store]
1. Intermediate Swordsmanship Manual – 2 Qi Crystal (99% off!)
2. Foundation Breaking Pill – 1 Qi Crystal (99% off!)
"No way," Kailash whispered, his heart racing. "This can't be real. Two items at 99% off?"
The Intermediate Swordsmanship Manual would normally cost a fortune, and the Foundation Breaking Pill the same pill he'd been dreaming about was practically a miracle at that price.
Kailash checked his balance.
"5 Qi Crystal. Perfect."
Without a second thought, he bought both items, feeling like he'd just won the cultivation lottery.
As the items materialized in front of him, he stared at them in disbelief.
"This is it," he whispered, holding the pill in one hand and the manual in the other. "This is how I break through."
The next few days were full of intense focus. Kailash spent hours studying the Intermediate Swordsmanship Manual, absorbing every detail of the new techniques.
It was far more advanced than anything he'd ever learned before, but with the gloves helping him channel his Qi, he felt like he could actually manage it.
"Alright, Kailash," he muttered to himself as he practiced one of the new stances, swinging his sword in a precise, fluid motion. "You're getting the hang of this. Just don't slice off your own leg."
He trained relentlessly, pushing himself harder than ever.
Every morning, he practiced his sword techniques, incorporating the movements from the manual.
Every afternoon, he sparred with Ravi, testing out his new skills in actual combat.
"That's more like it," Ravi said one day after Kailash managed to land a clean hit on his arm. "You're finally learning how to fight."
Kailash, sweating and out of breath, grinned. "Thanks. I just need to not die in the tournament, and we'll call it a win."
"That's the spirit," Ravi said with a chuckle. "Just don't forget, strength isn't everything. You've got to be smart, too."
"I'll keep that in mind," Kailash replied, though in his head, all he could think about was how much he still needed to improve.
At night, Kailash meditated, focusing on the Foundation Breaking Pill.
He knew he couldn't just rely on the pill alone to break through to Basic Level 3, he needed to cultivate the right way, absorb Qi steadily, and use the pill to push himself over the edge.
One evening, as he sat by the stream outside the village, the soft sound of water flowing by, Kailash held the pill in his hand, feeling its faint warmth.
"Here goes nothing," he whispered, swallowing the pill.
At first, nothing happened.
The air around him felt the same, the Qi flowing through him in its usual sluggish way.
But then, slowly, he felt a surge of energy building deep within his core, like a fire being stoked from a single spark.
His breathing deepened as he focused, guiding the energy through his body.
The Qi flowed more freely now, faster and more intense than before. It filled his core, his limbs, his mind, until he felt like he was glowing from the inside out.
For hours, Kailash sat there, meditating, feeling the power build and build until he could hardly contain it.
And then, just when he thought he couldn't hold any more, the dam broke.
Ding!
[Congratulations! You have advanced to Basic Level 3!]
Kailash's eyes snapped open, a rush of exhilaration surging through him.
He stood up slowly, testing his strength, his senses, everything.
He felt different, stronger, faster, more attuned to the world around him.
His Qi flowed effortlessly, his body felt lighter, and his mind sharper.
He grinned like a madman.
"I did it! Basic Level 3, finally!" he shouted, pumping his fists in the air.
"Keep it down, Kailash," someone called from the village, their voice echoing in the distance. "Some of us are trying to sleep!"
Kailash laughed to himself, too thrilled to care. He'd finally done it.
With the gloves, the sword techniques, and the Foundation Breaking Pill, he'd broken through just in time for the tournament.
Now, it was time to show everyone what he was really capable of.
The next day, Kailash returned to the training yard, practically bouncing with energy. Ravi raised an eyebrow as soon as he saw him.
"You look different," Ravi said, studying him closely. "Did you finally break through?"
Kailash grinned. "Basic Level 3."
Ravi let out a low whistle. "Well, look at that. You are indeed an genius. You're finally catching up. Ready for a real fight now?"
"I was born ready," Kailash said, grabbing his sword with newfound confidence.
"Alright, let's see if that breakthrough of yours wasn't just a lucky fluke," Ravi said with a smirk.